Wanted: 'Adventure capitalists'

MTV will target thrill seekers with rash of new shows on more nights

MTV has greenlighted a slate of eight new "aspirational, enterprising and empowering" series for 2009 as part of a push to ramp up the network's original programming.

Among them are spinoffs of "Run's House" and "Rob & Big"; a show from Nick Lachey about performing arts students in Cincinnati; another from Johnny Knoxville starring a professional daredevil; and a series that goes behind the scenes at CollegeHumor.com. Also on the slate are a Donald Trump-produced series that will attempt to reform party girls, another exec produced by Matt Stone and Trey Parker that's based on the "How's Your News?" short films and a college-set series produced by students.

"These new series reflect Generation 'Why Not?' — living, working and playing on their own terms, 'adventure capitalists' if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking, 2.0, express-yourself enterprises," said Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group.

Tony Disanto, MTV's executive vp series development and programming, said the slate marks an "unprecedented volume of new content" for the network, which is launching a two-hour block at 9 p.m. Sundays and adding original content in the 9 p.m. hour Mondays and Thursdays.